Ceramic for northern climates + salt roads

**swanicyouth** · 05-26-2021, 06:59 AM

There is no coating that will hold up on lower panels to road salt.

**Desertnate** · 05-26-2021, 07:21 AM

I've had great experience with CQuartz UK 2.0 and 3.0 through our mid-west winters.

After a long winter of grime and salt the beading and sheeting will be a little off, espicially on lower door panels and rear trunk/hatch area. However, after 2~3 good hand washes with a quality soap or 1 good wash with Reset, everything is back to normal and works great.

**nvestr** · 05-26-2021, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Texchappy

What about chemical decontamination after the winter? That’s part of maintaining a coating.

I Iron-X before and after winter. Does not seem to change anything with regards to water performance on the coating.

**nvestr** · 05-26-2021, 07:55 AM

Thanks for all the responses guys

Responses to some questions:

I wash the vehicle weekly (I'll admit sometimes it goes to every 2 weeks during the winter, but still try for weekly). Every wash is with 2 capfuls of CarPro Reset in a small-ish amount of water (2 bucket method with grit guards). I Iron-X twice per year (cars are white, so I get orange rust-spotting all over the vehicle anyway). No change in apparent performance of coatings on lower panels after doing this.

Garage kept (heated)

I always dry using a Metro Blaster.

On my last vehicle (BMW X3 M40i, Alpine White as well), the coating had been applied June 2019. AFter 1 winter, there was some diminished performance on lower panels, but by second winter (this winter passed), no visibile performance at all on lower panels. Above the belt line still going strong.

I do have Gtechniq C2 that I use from time to time, although it doesn't seem to make much of a difference... if it does, it doesn't last so I don't use it too often...

Appreciate the feedback - I am interested in CQUK 3 based on comments above. Also looking forward to getting BudgetPlan's comments on ISM 2.0

**vaca22** · 05-26-2021, 08:05 AM

Interesting observation on the vertical vs. horizontal panels, as my experience (with CQUK anyway) has been the opposite - the vertical panels sheet water crazy fast, but the horizontal surfaces have been significantly degraded in comparison, which is what I expected. The car is outside all of the time, in southern New England.

**dcjredline** · 05-26-2021, 10:44 AM

I have CSL no EXO on both my vehicles, one is going on 3 years and I am just noticing this on the lower panels but after 3 years Im ok with that. The other is one year in and things are holding up GREAT. This is Upstate NY so lots of road salt.

**hoyt66** · 05-26-2021, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by dcjredline

I have CSL no EXO on both my vehicles, one is going on 3 years and I am just noticing this on the lower panels but after 3 years Im ok with that. The other is one year in and things are holding up GREAT. This is Upstate NY so lots of road salt.

Oh thank goodness. I was getting discouraged by the negative CSL & EXO reviews here and I am using that on my F150 this weekend.

**WhiteShadow89** · 05-26-2021, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by hoyt66

Oh thank goodness. I was getting discouraged by the negative CSL & EXO reviews here and I am using that on my F150 this weekend.

This pairing is a tough to beat pairing in the consumer friendly world. I have been running CSL + EXO for 35 months now on my Mustang. I reapplied EXO when I noticed it was going away, and there has been zero signs of CSL degrading. You will be happy!

**dwaleke** · 05-26-2021, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by nvestr

I Iron-X before and after winter. Does not seem to change anything with regards to water performance on the coating.

I wouldn't expect iron remover to make any difference on water behavior.

Tar-X on the other hand will. It's a fairly aggressive cleaner that will really help unclog a coating.

Perhaps not the tool to use on an entire car but if you suspect a coating is clogged this can be used on a test spot to find out.

**nvestr** · 06-01-2021, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by dwaleke

I wouldn't expect iron remover to make any difference on water behavior.

Tar-X on the other hand will. It's a fairly aggressive cleaner that will really help unclog a coating.

Perhaps not the tool to use on an entire car but if you suspect a coating is clogged this can be used on a test spot to find out.

Fair point - GTechniq specifically mentions not to use Tax X on their coatings, so I always stayed away from it... That being said, I guess I have nothing to lose by trying... I will order some next time I buy product...